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SCRA Announces Executive Director

Jul 15, 2016

Press Releases

Robert “Bob” Quinn Selected to Head Economic Development Group

Columbia, S.C. – SCRA, a state-chartered organization that promotes job creation in South Carolina’s technology economy, today announced its new executive director. Robert “Bob” Quinn will serve as the organization’s leader beginning August 1, 2016.

Quinn is currently at the Battelle Memorial Institute, having worked in various executive roles with the company and affiliated companies since 1990. Battelle is the world’s largest nonprofit research and development organization, with over 22,000 employees at more than 60 locations globally. Most recently, Quinn has been the Managing Director for Technology Commercialization and Advisory Services for Battelle’s subsidiary, 360ip Pte. Ltd. In this capacity, he has established extensive relationships with universities, national laboratories, corporations and government agencies. He has worked collaboratively with the company’s investment team and serves as a Board Director of TechBridge Ventures, a technology development and commercialization company.

Throughout his career, Quinn has been extensively involved in technology development and commercialization, bringing unique knowledge of the tech-transfer process. For example, while Director of Technology Commercialization at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, he managed a portfolio of over 850 patents, over 500 patent applications and over 100 licenses.

“For the past eight years, I have been focused on technology commercialization and economic development primarily in Asia and the Middle East. My new position at SCRA provides me with the opportunity to use my decades of experience to advance the economy in South Carolina – a state that I love dearly,” stated Quinn. “I look forward to utilizing my experience to grow and develop the state’s innovation economy by enhancing the SC Launch program, furthering commercialization of university research and building industry partnerships.”

“Bob is a proven leader with substantial, relevant experience and quantifiable results. He is uniquely qualified for the executive director role given his background in strategic alignment with universities, governments and other collaborative relationships, investments and due diligence and technology commercialization,” said SCRA Board of Trustees’ Chairman Bill Blume. “In SCRA’s enabling legislation, we were tasked with collaborating with the research universities to assist in research and technology development and growing South Carolina’s technology-based economy. Bob is the ideal candidate to execute and implement SCRA’s strategic plan, and we look forward to leveraging his leadership skills to build upon existing relationships and cultivate high-tech job growth throughout the state.”

About SCRA

Chartered in 1983 by the state of South Carolina, SCRA enriches South Carolina's technology economy. SCRA improves the development and growth of South Carolina's innovation ecosystem by supporting entrepreneurs, enabling university research commercialization and connecting industry to innovators.